Genesee Co. clerk arraigned on witness, willful neglect charges

FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announced the arrest of Genesee County Clerk John Gleason.

The Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office issued the arrest warrant for Gleason, and he was taken into custody without incident, Swanson said. Gleason was arraigned in the 67th District on Friday afternoon and has been charged with witness bribing/intimidating/interfering, punishable by up to four years in prison, and willful neglect of duty, punishable by up to one year in prison, according to court records.

The charges stem from conduct that happened between December 2019 and March 2022 in the city of Flint, according to the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office. A witness related to the first charge is an employee of the Genesee County Clerk’s Office.

Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene said he took over the case after Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton recused himself from the case. The Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office was previously appointed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to review the matter as a Special Prosecuting Attorney.

“This has been a journey working this case,” Reene said.

Friday Reene’s office issued criminal charges against the Genesee County Clerk.

TV5 has learned Gleason’s alleged victims are two female employees at the Genesee County Clerk’s office.

“They strike me as individuals who simply wanted to come to work, serve the public, and do a good job. And unfortunately, they encountered behavior that has resulted in our coming together today to address what has happened,” Reene said.

Reene did not elaborate any further.

Swanson gave more details into Gleason’s arrest that took place Friday morning in Flint.

“We found where Mr. Gleason was at the second floor of the Genesee County Clerk’s building. It was without incident. He was brought over to the Genesee County Jail as we would any other felony arrest. He was processed through without incident,” Swanson said.

Gleason was issued a $5,000 PR bond for both charges and has been released from jail, according to Swanson.

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